“He isn’t a number nine but he isn’t a number ten – he’s more of a nine-and-a-half” - BBC pundit Gianluca Vialli can’t work out Antonio Cassano’s position.

“I could be Peter Pan but I think i’m more of a man than Peter Pan” – Mad Mario Balotelli in dreamland again.

“When you win these type of games, that means that everyone has given 100 per cent. Today we did this and it was a perfect game” – Andrea Pirlo gives Italy’s semi-final performance the thumbs up.

“I can honestly say that my soul was left on that pitch, and I think I needed a few people to carry me off the pitch because I was literally dead” – Croatia’s Ivan Rakitic is gutted after Croatia’s exit.

“The operation went well but the patient died” – Sweden boss Erik Hamren conducts a post-mortem on his side’s campaign.

“You are looking for s***, looking for trouble. F*** you, go f*** your mother, you son of a b****” – Samir Nasri declines to be interviewed.

“I feel like a young dog that is dying to get out but is caged in” – Dutch ace Rafael van der Vaart gets annoyed at a lack of playing time.

“Queers in the national team? That’s their business. But I hope not” – Antonio Cassano discusses life in the Italy dressing room.

“We don’t believe that Nicklas should be penalised for nothing more serious than wearing his lucky underpants” – Bookies Paddy Power defend Denmark’s Nicklas Bendtner.

“The fact that we didn’t meet your expectations is not our problem - it is yours” – Andrey Arshavin refuses to take the blame for Russia’s exit.

“Let’s not kid ourselves, we’re a small country, we’re up against it but let’s not just go along for the sing-song every now and again” – Roy Keane lays into the Ireland team after their 4-0 loss to Spain

“If it is Italy or if it’s England, we know we can beat them. That is the German mentality” – ­Lukas Podolski looks ahead to an “easy” semi-final ...

“Tonight was the most beautiful game of my life” – Mario Balotelli, whose two goals for Italy knocked out Germany.

“You know where Messi was at this time last year? Being eliminated in the Copa America in his own country” – Cristiano Ronaldo lets chants of “Messi, Messi” get under his skin.